Glynda Malleske and her neighbor used the lord’s name when they saw the palace a queen bee and her court had erected on the side of her house in the Village of the Hills.

A truly royal visit it was not.
The intrusive insects had established a bee beachhead by building a hive about 2 feet by 2 feet by her chimney’s exterior that also crept into her attic’s soffit. The queen bee was laying 4,000-6,000 eggs a day.
The day Malleske saw the bees while she and her neighbor were discussing a tree hanging over into her yard was the same day she had read about Willard Duncan, the 85-year-old man who was stung more than 500 times in a bee attack Aug. 11 in East Austin. Duncan was hospitalized after the bees stung him in front of a home near Waller and 13th streets.
“I’m so glad we just happened to see the hive. I would have never considered looking for anything [there],” Malleske said.
So she and her husband were on full alert and called in the cavalry in the form of Keith’s Bee Service, an Austin-area bee relocation service.
Beekeeper Keith Huddle estimated the bees had been there at least two months and produced a hive capable of holding up to four gallons of honey.
Rather than exterminate bees, bee relocators move the hive’s brood chambers, honeycombs and bees to a bee farm where they are rehabilitated in a new environment and bred to be less hostile.
All bees found in nature in the U.S. are Africanized hybrids, and hives have varying temperaments based on their queens’ pheromone output, Huddle said.
The hive at Malleske’s house was relatively docile as Huddle and his assistant, Eric Cummings, extracted about 100,000 bees in a couple of hours using a vacuum.
“They weren’t really super, super aggressive like I’ve seen them. When I run across a hive as calm as this one, it’s nice because I can breathe through the whole [extraction], “ Huddle said.
Things can get sticky if the queen pours on the pheromones and directs her drones to attack, en masse, the job turns into a battle. More Africanized bees display more aggressive tendencies, Huddle said.
“I’ve been at a hive vacuuming it where it gets … so aggressive. There are so many bees flying in the area and there’s so many on my hood that I can’t see through them and I just have to vacuum them off my face,” he said. “When they start covering your mask it’s quite overwhelming and unnerving because any flaw in that mask will be found.”
The beekeepers’ protective suits and gloves ward off the bees, but the stifling Texas heat and hostile swarms can create a pressure-cooker.
However, when an unprotected victim gets stung five or six times, the pheromone that exudes off the bee sting, attracts more bees like a magnet to the area of skin that was stung.
“All of a sudden — boom — they are mad and they are lighting out a 1,000 a second on you. One sting becomes 10 becomes 100 becomes several hundred that fast,” Huddle said with a snap of his fingers.
Swarming season starts late March or early April and ends in September.
In spring, bees start to reproduce in numbers when their pollen sources start flowering and budding. When a hive amasses more bees than it can hold, a group of about 20,000 to 30,000 bees will form, make a new queen and leave to build a new hive, he said.
They must act quickly to restore their food source, so they operate on a deadline of about 24-48 hours to set up the initial workings of a hive.
Huddle warned that a hive that acts calmly one day could turn vicious the next day if a new queen moves in that has more Africanized instincts and kills the old queen.
“When the new queen arrives, there’s a new commander instantly. New decisions are being made, and you just never know what that’s going to bring,” he said.
The service has received about five to 10 calls a month to relocate bees from trees and residences in Lakeway, Bee Cave, Steiner Ranch and western Travis County this summer with some churches and cities requesting help.
Huddle said his service had responded to about 10 relocation calls in two weeks off Texas 71 in Bee Cave.
Malleske said she was relieved that she found the hive at her house before anyone was attacked.
“Everybody needs to check their own property,” she said.

As the national government attempts to spur the economy before November elections, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, District 21, pointed to the importance of small business owners as its lifeblood.

His message was center stage at a forum Sept. 2 at Laura Bush Community Library.
Smith met with local small business owners ahead of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report Friday that the nation’s unemployment rate held at 9.6 percent.
“If we are going to have a healthy economic climate, if we are going to have economic growth in our country, we are going to have to support, and nurture and help all the small business across the land,” Smith said to open the forum.
More than two-thirds of all job creation in the U.S. originates from small businesses.
“They are the ones largely responsible for the increase in productivity in America. So if want to have our standard of living continue to increase, if we want to not only generate jobs but also make sure the salaries are going up, all that more or less is reliant on the well being and success of small businesses,” Smith said.
Acknowledging that Congress will be in session for only a few more weeks, he queried the audience for their suggestions on legislative measures they would like to see authored and passed in Washington, D.C.
Travis County resident Kelly Harrison grilled Smith on his voting record on bills that Harrison believed would help small businesses, such as the failed Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2010, HR 5982, which Smith voted against in July.
He also opposed Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010, HR 5297, that established the Small Business Lending Fund to finance capital investments to financial institutions to provide loans to small businesses, created the Small Business Credit Initiative to fund state credit support programs for small businesses and an Early Stage Investment Program to fund equity investment financing to support early-stage businesses.
“Those were very partisan bills. There was no effort by the administration or by congressional leaders to try to involve Republicans …,” Smith said, adding that he believed those bills were not funded. “To me, it was not fiscally responsible.”
Smith hammered away at fiscal irresponsibility that he said was dragging the nation’s debt into even greater depths. In the last seven years, the gross national debt has doubled from $7.35 billion in 2004 to an estimated $14.46 billion this year as the federal government spends almost $2 for every $1 it generates in revenue.
He recommended Congress give businesses a tax cut or investment tax credits to create jobs.
“That provides a positive way for them to have a reason to employ more people if they are going to expand their business,” Smith said. “That, to me, is a better way rather than spending more of the taxpayers’ dollars.”
Kathy Carvell of Austin criticized anyone who said taxes were the key.
“I feel like my intelligence is being insulted. The lack of demand to due unemployment is the real problem. Taxes are the red herring,” Carvell said.
On the heels of Friday’s labor report, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis identified small businesses as the cog to economic recovery.
“To support growth, it is critical to support our small businesses, which are key drivers of our economic recovery. Indeed, two out of every three jobs created in our economy are created by small businesses,” Solis said in a statement.
She cited eight different tax cuts the administration helped pass for small businesses and the Small Business Jobs Act, pending in the Senate, that would provide a set of tax breaks and lending incentives to spur investment and hiring by small businesses.
Officials said the act would accelerate $55 billion of tax relief to encourage American businesses, small and large, to expand their investments over the next 14 months.”
At the state level, Kathy Barber, Texas legislative director of National Federation of Independent Business, said that the overriding concern that comes up in her conversations with small business owners across the state is about health-care reform and what legislators really passed in the reform bill this year.
Barber cited several concerns at the forum with the recently passed health care bill, including Section 9006 that requires all businesses, starting in 2012, to issue 1099 tax forms to anyone or any business that they do more than $600 of business with in a tax year.
“Those types of things keep coming to the surface, and it really scares small businesses. It’s really hard for them to understand what their future looks like at this point,” said Barber, whose agency represents more than 25,000 small and independent businesses in Texas and 350,000 nationally. “I will tell you repeatedly that the fear of hiring people is a result of not knowing what that future looks like.”
Rollingwood Mayor Bill Hamilton shared concerns of local governments with the forum audience.
The city has 14 commercial properties that contain a total of 200 small businesses. so the timing of Smith’s forum couldn’t have been better.
“Our goal is to make sure they don’t get any smaller,” Hamilton said.
The community is set to distribute its inaugural business survey to all companies in Rollingwood to retain and attract businesses to the area.
Despite the animated debate with some audience members, Smith said he valued the opportunity to learn first-hand what his constituents are thinking.
“I think all this helps me be a better member of Congress,” he said. “Anyone can come and anyone can say what they want to whether they agree or disagree.”
He pointed to the post-election months as a time when representatives could refocus on a solution.
“The election is only two months away. Hopefully, after that, there will be more certainty. Maybe there will be more agreement on policies and then we’ll know more about the taxes.”

The Rotary Club of Bee Cave recently received its official charter from Rotary International. Members celebrated the event at a banquet at Vintage Villas of Lake Travis along with the Rotary Club of Onion Creek, which received its charter the same day.

Outgoing Bee Cave Rotary President Laura Mitchell congratulated her group on their success in reaching this milestone, and assured them they are in good hands under the leadership of incoming President Sheryl Baker. District 5870 Governor Ruth Allison addressed the assembly about the many avenues of service available through Rotary International, whose motto is “Service above Self.”
The evening concluded with charter members of both clubs receiving their official Rotary pins, and reciting the Rotary Four-Way Test: Of the things we think, say or do, (1) Is it the truth? (2) Is it fair to all concerned? (3) Will it build goodwill and better friendships? (4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Since the Bee Cave club began meeting in 2008, service projects have included home repairs for area residents in need, food drives and fund-raising for Lake Travis Crisis Ministry, backpacks and supplies for homeless teens through Lifeworks of Austin, donations of dictionaries and other supplies to an orphanage in Peru, providing a support team for Mobile Loaves and Fishes, and many others.
The Bee Cave Rotary recently raised funds to purchase the first art bench in the Benches of Bee Cave program sponsored by the Bee Cave Arts Foundation. Charter members include Adriene Brown, Alan Adams, Barbara Hathaway-Secretary, Ben Archer, Billy Butler-Treasurer, Bob Smith, Cash Lewis, Cheryel Parker-Vice President, Tejas Patel, Jim Eagle, Karen Cook, Laura Mitchell-Past President, Mike Posey, Neal Hardin, Patty Palmer-President Elect, Rusty Pancoast-Sergeant-At-Arms, Scott Kunkel, Sheryl Baker-President, Stephen England, and Te Turner.
The Bee Cave Rotary meets Tuesdays from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Bountiful Café in the Shops at the Galleria (1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month) or at the Old Bee Cave School House , 13333-A Texas 71 West, next to the Bee Cave Police Department (2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month). For more information, visit the web site at www.beecaverotary.com.

Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que and Soleil will open this fall, and the boutique shopping village made in the style of an old-world inspired hill country town will debut in spring 2011.

Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que will serve barbeque and the international award-winning micro brewed beers of Austin craft brewer Brian Peters.

Soleil is a new Mediterranean inspired cuisine creation of the James Beard award-winning Texas Chef Robert Del Grande.

“Now diners will be able to experience a wide variety of choices when they arrive at Oasis, Texas,” said Beau Theriot, owner of the Oasis Restaurant and one of the visionaries behind the Oasis, Texas development. “They can enjoy their favorite TexMex dishes and margaritas at The Oasis, indulge in some down-home barbeque and hand crafted beer at Uncle Billy’s, or choose to enjoy a variety of fresh seafood, pastas, pizzas, wine and cocktails in the relaxing Mediterranean atmosphere at Soleil,”

In addition to the two new 8,000-10,000-square-foot restaurants, Oasis, Texas also will feature up to 30 new boutique retail stores in a unique shopping village setting.

“The shopping village will transform Oasis, Texas into more than just a restaurant destination. The boutique stores will offer the opportunity for those who are looking for some of the best of Austin in one convenient location whether coming and going to one of the restaurants or simply as a shopping destination,” Theriot said.

Oasis, Texas also will host a calendar of events and gatherings throughout the year that will build up to an annual event when Oasis, Texas will be transformed into a festive Christmas village.

Talks began five years ago to bring the development to fruition, and leasing agent Mark Goldman said that developers felt the time was right for this style of retail area to capitalize on a market that is bucking the economic trend.

Leasing at Oasis, Texas has been “exceptionally good,” he said.

“Really, there has been no new excitement in the market and we feel that it is the right time. West of downtown (Austin) has not been hit as hard as the rest of Texas,” Goldman said. “People still like to eat and be entertained. So why not?”

He cited Oasis, Texas’ authentic Austin and hill country flavor that eschews franchises and big box retailers as a draw for not only the local community but also Austin shoppers and out-of-town tourists.

“We wanted to create a pedestrian environment that offers a unique experience that is also geared to the amount of people who come to Austin and to The Oasis,” Goldman said.

The project includes plans to build an 18-unit luxury flat residential area across Comanche Trail in the near future, he said, electing not to comment on discussions of a hotel site.

“There’s talk of it, but too far along to really discuss,” he said.

Bringing all these components together would add some challenges, but Goldman said he believes the project comes at the right time at the right place.

“We feel like that there’s opportunity within the market to do these things today,” he said. “It’s such a special place. We’re just real upbeat and positive.”

Whole Foods Market Inc. is set to open a 36,000-square-foot store in early 2012, said Adrian Overstreet, ownership group representative for Hill Country Galleria.

When the retail center’s new ownership group took the reins after the property’s $75 million sale in January, they mailed Whole Foods with leasing information the day after they closed, Overstreet said.

“They are the top of the class of Austin businesses and we are interested in getting the very best,” he said. “We are obviously thrilled.”

Whole Foods Market Inc. has eight other leases pending and reported sales increased 15 percent to $2.2 billion for the third quarter.

“We are pleased with our results which compare very favorably to most other food retailers and show we are continuing to gain market share,” said John Mackey, co-chief executive officer and co-founder of Whole Foods Market. “Despite tougher comparisons and the recent dip in reported consumer confidence, our two-year stacked identical store sales also sequentially increased to 4.6 percent.”

Whole Foods plans to open another Austin-area store at the Domain in 2012 and more in San Francisco, Boise, Id., Minneapolis and Washington, D.C.

The Austin-based natural and organic foods supermarket chain has about 57,000 employees and has been ranked for 13 consecutive years as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by Fortune magazine.

Overstreet hoped to feed off the retailer’s success and presence as an anchor tenant as it signs more leases.

“We think that this will put us in a stronger position to fill out the rest of the development,” he said. “We’ve leased a great deal of space in the last few months. We think Whole Foods is only going to make that process go faster.”

Hill Country Galleria has recently added several tenants such as AMCheck, a payroll services company, and Radiant RFID, a company that develops RFID systems for evacuation, access and asset management.

The retail center also has signed a host of new leases including deals for restaurants Guy Harvey’s Tropical Island Grill, Wyland’s Ocean Blue and Buenos Aires Café.